Pastor Rodney Schwab new to Trinity Lutheran Church

ERIN KLEMA, Tribune Staff Writer

Published 3:07 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016

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For Pastor Rodney Schwab, who now serves the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church as their new pastor, the call to serve the Elkton church was a task for which Schwab felt God had been preparing him throughout his life. less

For Pastor Rodney Schwab, who now serves the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church as their new pastor, the call to serve the Elkton church was a task for which Schwab felt God had been preparing him ... more

Pastor Rodney Schwab new to Trinity Lutheran Church

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ELKTON — When a pastor accepts a position at a Lutheran church, the pastor is said to be following a calling to serve the congregation.

For Pastor Rodney Schwab, who now serves the congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church as their new pastor, the call to serve the Elkton church was a task for which Schwab felt God had been preparing him throughout his life.

Born and raised on his family’s farm in Bay County, the return to small-town life brings Schwab back to his roots of milking the 30 cows on his father’s 650-acre farm.

A lifelong Lutheran, Schwab said church has always been a big part of his life.

“I always liked church,” he said. “My mom says I used to stand on the steps and pretend to be the pastor.”

He began his schooling at St. Bartholomew Lutheran School. While attending this K-8 school, he decided teaching would be in his career path. However, he was not sure if his calling in life was to teach in the classroom or to teach the Bible.

Schwab said he remembers an elementary teacher telling him to train to be a pastor. The teacher told him it would be easier to switch from being a pastor to a teacher, he said.

Talking about Jesus and singing in the school choirs became two of Schwab’s favorite pastimes, he said.

“It became apparent that I could comfort people with the message of Jesus,” Schwab said about his training to become a pastor.

Schwab continued his Lutheran education and training at Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw by going through the Wisconsin Synod worker training system. He attended Northwestern College in Watertown, Wis. and graduated in 1980 from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

“I’m not the best scholar, but I like studying the Bible,” he said. “I’m not the best teacher, but I like teaching the Bible.”

In 1978-1979, Schwab served as a vicar (student pastor) in Ottawa, Canada, where he met his wife of 28 years, Susan. He said his wife was active in the church as a Sunday school teacher and sang in the choir. Being involved in church activities is still very important to her, he said.

Schwab said he had hoped his first placement would be in the city, without being in the inner-city, and only a one day drive from Ottawa. His prayers were answered when he was ordained and installed at his first parish in 1980 in Westland.

While living in Westland, Schwab’s four children—Adam, Elizabeth, Mary and Mark—were born.

As Schwab’s career continued, he moved from his vicar position in the capital of Canada to smaller cities and towns. After his first full-time position in the Metro Detroit city of Westland, the family moved west to Allegan. Then the Schwab family relocated to Portland, a small town near Lansing of about 3,500 residents. And now Schwab and his wife reside as empty-nesters in the village of Elkton, which has less than one-third the population of Portland and is an hour’s drive to Bay City.

Each step of Schwab’s career prepared him for his current role, which began with his installment on July 13. Schwab said the congregation’s concerns about shrinking membership felt like a challenge he could take on. Schwab said he hopes to meet the approximate 150 church members and encourage them in their faith on a personal level.

“That’s like evangelism work within the membership,” he said.

Schwab came to serve Trinity Lutheran Church because the previous pastor, Elton Bickel, retired. Schwab said the church has had vacancies in the past while waiting for a new pastor, but Schwab responded to the call within less than two weeks of Bickel’s July 1 announcement.

“The majority of their vacancies have lasted more than one year,” he said.

Members of the congregation helped the Schwabs move into their new home across from the church, and church members completely remodeled the home’s kitchen and bathroom for the Schwabs’ arrival.